Great little survey course textbook on reading film. Makes up for the fact that I was too Protestant to take Film 101 in university. I particularly enjoyed the section where he references himself in the third person, as in "Most college textbooks, such as Gerald Mast's A History of Narrative in Film, and Louis Giannetti [at this point I had to look at the cover to re-check who was writing] attempt to integrate as much as possible from technological, economic, and social film histories, but their main emphasis is on film as art." I always thought a good drinking game would be to take a shot whenever an academic author cites himself.
I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I picked this one up when I heard Roger Ebert recommended it as a classic. I have a few bones to pick with popular pro film critics. I will up front say I love the guy for loving movies and unashamedly admitting his fanboy attitude. However, I think the guy's given too many thumbs up to total crap in recent years and this in my mind raises the question as to the role of film criticism - is he part of the PR machine, or actually providing insightful observations about film? Well, without slamming the guy when he's down (I know he's been ill recently), I'll just say thanks for the great book recommendation.
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